The farmhand kept on chasing Nicknack, calling him to stop, but the goat would not. Then, as Ted came near, and opened the gate of the yard around the barn, to go in, Nicknack saw what was going on.
Suddenly the goat made a dash for the open gate.
“Look out! He’s coming! He’ll try to get loose, and if he gets out maybe you’ll never catch him again!” cried the hired man.
Ted tried to close the gate, but he was not quick enough. Right past him ran the goat, knocking the little boy down, but not hurting him, I’m glad to say.
“Ugh!” grunted Ted as he struck the ground. His breath seemed to be knocked out of him, as it once was when he was struck by a football.
“Oh, Ted! are you hurt?” cried Janet, who saw what had happened.
“No. I’m all right,” he answered.
The hired man, who ran out of the gate after the goat, stopped to pick up Teddy and brush some of the dirt off his clothes.
“I never did see such a goat!” cried the man. “Look at him go!”
The goat had run out of the barnyard now, jumped over a low fence and was running down the road.